Combination ignition lock



March 25 1924. 1,487,879

' H. T. ORMONDE COMBINATION IGNITION LOCK Filed Jan. 11, 192? 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 M I jyz March 25 1924.

I 1,487,879 H. T. ORMONDE COMBINATION IGNITION LOCK Filed Jan. 1]., 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet? March 25 1924. 1,487,879 I H. T. ORMONDE COMBINATION IGNITION LOCK I Filed Jan. 11. 1922 4 sneezsl sneet z Illllh 7 #7 7 I izflya five/Mar I Marh 25, 1924. v 1,487,879

H. T. ORMONDE I COMBINATION IGNITION LOCK Filed Jan. 11, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 25 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY '1. ORMONDE, or LAKEWOOD, 01110, assignbs or omens 'r o ORLAND F. .IBAUGHMAN AND ONE-FOURTH '10 JULIUS"ROEMER, BOTH or LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

COMBINATIOLT .IGFNITIION- Lock.

Application filed January 11, 1922. Serial No. $211,509.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY T. ORMoNnE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combination Ignition Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to ignition locks for internal combustion engines and has for its general object to provide for such engines a lock which, while comparatively simple of construction, will make it extremely difiicult, if not practically impossible, for other than duly authorized persons to render operative the ignition circuits.

In the drawings forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of a lock constructed in accordance with my invention, said lock being designed for use with a magneto; 2 a plan view of said lock; Figs. 3 and 4t sectional views corresponding respectively to the lines 3-3 and 4- 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 a sectional view corresponding to the line 5-5 of Fig. 7 Fig. 6 a plan view of the intermediate combination switch plate; Fig. 7 a sectional detail on the line 77 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 a detail in section and elevation showing one of the ignition circuit plugs in its closed position; Figs. 9 and 10 sectional details corresponding respectively to the lines 99'and 1010 of Fig. 3; Fig. 11 a detail in elevation of one of the ignition circuit plugs and the cooperating ground plunger; Figs. 12, 13 and 1 1 are sectional details through the upper head of the lock and the switch plugs mounted therein; and Fig. 15 a diagrammatic vlew showing the electric circuit employed in the operation of the aforesaid lock. H j

The lock to which thisapplication is directed is a combination lock and, in the embodiment disclosed herein, includes a plurality of switch plugs, some'of which correspond respectively to the sparkplugs, and a plate cooperating with the said plugs t'orenider the circuits to the spark plugs ineffective in the event that the plate is not set-to a predetermined position and certain selected plugs are also operated in conjunction there with. The invention as illustrated is designed for use with a magneto. v

Describing the parts. by reference charac ters 1 denotes a oasing,-preferably cylindrical in outline and having at its upper end a flange 3 which is adapted to engage any suitable support, such as the rear face of the dash 4, the casing being clamped to the dash by means of said flange and a cooperating clamping ring 5.

The lock proper is mounted within this casing and comprises generally an upper head 6 of insulating material, a lower head 7 of conducting material and having an insulating base 7 and an intermediate metallic switch plate 8. The upper head is supported from the lower head by .means of posts 9. Secured to. and projecting through the central portion of the lower head 2'is a sleeve 10 through which. extend the wires for the magneto ground circuit and for the spark-plug circuits- The switch plate 8 is provided with a hub 8 by which it is pinned to a vertical shaft 11, the pin being indicated at 12. Surrounding the hub 8 is an insulation sleeve 13. The upper end of the shaft 11 projects above the head 6 and is there provided with a frusto conical indicating member 14 having an indicating scale 15 thereon and provided at its extreme upper end with a knurled operating wheel or head. 16. The scale upon the member 14 cooperates with an arrow 17 upon the top of the head 6 (see Fig. 2).

The plate8 is provided with two concentrio series of openings, there being an outer series of openings 18 and an inner series of openings 19. The particular embodiment of my invention shown herein is designed for use with a six-cylinder car; hence the numbers of the openings provided in the inner and outer series are preferably multiples of the number of cylinders employed in the motor with which the lock cooperates, twelve openings 18 and six openings 19 being provided herein. However, it will be understoodthat, forthepurpose of my lnvention, no-speeia-l :number of openings in either series is essential. Vithin the innerv series of o 1'ii11gs19 and ;;adj-a'cent; to the hub, the pate ;:8 is provided with a small insulated areai ndicatedat-20.- This insulated areais conveniently provided 'by' drilling a hole of suitablesize through the plate 8 and filling the same with. a plug of insulating material. Adjacent to certain ofthe outer apertures 18 of-theswitch plate are movable posts 21 in sliding electrical contact with the said plate, each being normally retained in elevated potion of the plate 8.

sition by means of a spring 22. In the embodiment of my invention shown herein, six contact posts are shown. The purpose and mode of operation of these posts will be pointed out hereinafter in connection with the circuits.

lectrically connected with the lower head 7 is the terminal post 23 to which is connected the ground wire 24 from the magneto. The return ground is eil'ected by a two part terminal post comprising a lowersection 25 having a plunger 26 slidably mounted in the upper part thereof pressed upwardly by a spring 2? so as to engage the peripheral por- A wire 29 leads from the bottom of the post 27 to the frame or other ground. and the post 25 and the plunger are enclosed by an insulating sleeve 28.

Located exteriorlv of the posts 25 are posts 80 which are mounted in insulating sleeves ill extending through the lower head 7 and into the bottom of the upper head (3. Six such posts are shown. one for each of the spark plugs of a six-cylinder motor. Connected to the bottom of each post is a. wire 32, and from the top of each post leads a wire 3 :5. The posts 30 and the connections erve to lead the current for the spark plugs to the appropriate switch plugs, mounted in the upper head, as will be explained hereinafter.

A lso mounted in the lower head is a series t terminal posts ill. each having connected to 'il e bottom thereof a wire leading to a r; plug. The lock being designed for a six-cylinder motor, six such posts are indicated. Each post is mounted in an insulating sleeve 36 and is provided in its upper end with a socket 3%. Four of the posts are shown as adapted to register with the openings 18, but the fifth and sixth are located within or toward the center of the head 7 from the other posts and each is adapted to register with an opening 19. The purpose of this arrangement will be explained hereinafter. Slidablv mounted in the head 7 adjacent to each of the posts 3iand in electrical contact with said head is a contact post 37 having at its upper end. a head 37 which is adapted to engage the peripheral portion of the plate 8, .being held in engagement therewith by means ot a spring 38. The head 7 also carries. in electrical contact therewith. short posts 89. Two of these posts are so located as to register with the outer openings 18 in the plate 8 while the third is located so as to register with the openings 19 in said plate. Also slidablv mounted in the lower head and in electrical contact therewith is a post 4:0 having a head 40 adapted to engage the under surface of the plate 8, being held in engagement with said plate by means of a spring 41. This post is located near the center of the head 7 so that its head may register with the insulation 20 when the plate 8 is set in proper position to enable the spark plug circuits to be closed.

In the upper head (3 there are mounted the operating plugs by which the magneto ground is broken or closed and the spark plug circuits are opened. or closed. '1 heso plugs, in conjunction with the wiring arrangement described and to be described herein, will close the circuit to all six of the spark plugs when the proper combination of plugs is selected, in conjunction with the proper positioning of the plate 8. but will prevent the closing or establishing of the spark-plug circuits under other conditions. Generally speaking. two sets of plugs are shownas employed. The first. set comprises six active plugs, each of which constitutes part of the circuit including a spark plug. Referring particularly to Fig. 7, l2 denotes one of the active switch plugs having at its upper end a knurled head 42 and provided with two longitudinally spaced grooves -12 extending therearound and adapted to receive each a locking ball 43 pressed into engagement with the said plug v a spring all. The springs and the balls for the various plugs are mounted in recesses in the head 6 which are closed by plugs 45.

The lower end of the body of each plug 42 is provided with a metallic flange 42. and the lower end of each plug below such flange is reduced. as shown at 42*. and is mounted in an insulating sleeve 46 having a socket 46" in its lower end adapted to receive the reduced upper extension of a sleeve 36 tbcrebeneath and also having above such socket a shoulder 46 which is adapted to engage the head 37 on a post 37. thereby to break the connection between such post and the plate 8see Fig. 8. The lower end of the reduced portion 42" constiutes a pin which is adapted to enter the socket Si in the. top of a. post 3i thcrebencath. when the plate 8 is moved to bring the openings 18 into register with the plugs 42 and posts 34. Surrounding each plug -12 above the flange 42 is a metallic sleeve 47. said sleeve being mounted in the head 6 and having an extended base 47 to which one of the conduct ing wires 33 is attached. whereby each of the plugs 42 may constitute part of the circuit including the wire 32. post 3 wire 33. post 34 and wire 3? leading to a spark plug. As shown more particularly in Fig. 3. four of the posts l2 are arranged to register with the openings 13 in the plate 8 while the other two are arranged to register with the openings 19 and thus to register with the coope ating posts 34.

There is also mounted in the head 6 a second set of plugs which are aligned with and arranged to cooperate with the posts 39, thereby to render the ignition or sparkplug circuits inoperative under conditions to be set forth hereinafter. One of these plugs is shown at 48 in 'Fi 9 and is constructed similarly to the p ugs 42, having a knurled 'head48 and locking grooves 48 for thereception of a'locking ball 43. The lower end of each plug 48 isprovided with an enlargement 48 adapted to contact with the sidewall of the appropriate opening 18 or 191 VVit-hthe parts arranged as'shown in Fig. 9, should one of'theplugs 48 be pushed downwardly or inwardly so as to contact with a post 39, the magnet ground circuit would be closed through post 23, head' 'l', post 39, plug 48, plate '8, and post 25,26.

' Should, "however, the magneto ground be broken as by breaking or removing the wire 24 from the magneto, each of the plugs 48 will "serve to cutout theig'nitioncircuits of a pairoi spark plugs by the arrangement shown in Figs. 12-14, wherein it'will be notedthat each of said plugs is provided with an insulating sleeve 49 which is adapted to bereceived within a seat 49 in the lower face offthe head 6 when'the plug is in elen'rate'd position." 5Q denotes channels formed in theheadfi. Two channels extend from each'otthe plugs 48 to two of the plugs 42; In each of these channels is mounted a contact plunger 51 which, when a plug 48' is depressed, is; ushed into electrical contact with said p ug by means of a spring 52 hearing at its opposite end a alnst a metallic sleeve 47 on a plug 42. i. 'ould the magneto round be broken and one of the plugs '48 epressed into engage ment with a post 39 the ignition circuit will beshorted through each of the two plugs 42, sleeves'47, springs 52, plungers 51, plug 48, plate 8, post 25, 26 and conductor29.

Witl the parts constructed and arran ed as described the operation will be as 01 lows, reference being hadtb ig- 15;Y which indicates the circuits and thewiring employed with the lock. In this view, '53 in dicates a distributer plate on the front of the magneto, said plate having a "central shaft 54 which carries the usual contact arm for-the contacts55. Each wire32from a contact 55 leads to the sleeve 47 surrounding a'plug 42 inthe upper head (5. As has been explained -he reinbefore', this connection of the wires 32with the plugs 42 is secured by connecting each wire 'a "post 30 and leading a *wire"33 irom each of said posts to um flange' '47! of a 'sl flveifl The-conductor l'ea'iingjf-ron theniagneto to the post 23 i-ndnd-i'cated "ati24' and the und coil n'ec'tion iromthe 845 211 the I 25', 26 is 'sliown at" the osts' 42 through c the S r 7P s5'e e' mad y. spark pings "loci e esce i den ed on n l t 56' and T the" enginef'g ronnd "being indi cated at 57.

I With the magneto grounded, as is usual, through the post 23, plate 7, post 40, plate 8, and post 25, 26, it will be necessary to break this ground before any one of the spark plug circuits may be closed, This ground'may be broken by rotating the plate 8 until the insulation 20 engages the head 40 of the contact 40 as shown in Fig. 7. However, the magneto will stillbe grounded through the contacts 37 plate 8 and post 25, 26. This will then prevent the current from the magneto from flowing through the conductors 32 to the sleeves 47 and the spark plugs. When the plate 8 is turned to the position indicated, each of the particular six live plugs 42 which correspond to the spark plugs may be operated to break the ground through the contact 37 adjacent thereto and to close its particular spark plug circuit. As each of these plugs descends, its shoulder 46 engages the head 37 a on the contact 37 and breaks the electrical connection between the plates 7 and 8see Fig. 8and attlie same time closes the circuit between the wires 33 and 35 through the extension 42 of the plug 42 and the post 34. By the construction and arrangement thus far described, it will be apparent that,

in order to supply current to the spark plugs, not only must the plate 8 be set to a position to break the electrical contact between the posts 41 and the plate 8, but also that the proper combination of live plugs 42 be selected for breaking the ground circuit through all six of the posts 37 and for closing the circuits to the spark plugs. This position of the'plate 8 can be determined by means of the scale 15 on the indicating member 14, in conjunction with the arrow 17; also by memorizing the particular plugs which must be operated in order to break the ground circuits and to close the spark plug circuits. In Fig. 2 the ends of the posts are designated by the letters A-I inclusive, enabling the operator to identify the proper plugs by means of said letters.

Assuming that neither of the ground wires 24 and 29 is broken or disconnected andthat all of the plugs 42 and 48 have been 1 depressed, the ignition circuit will be inelfective because the magneto will be grounded through post 23, plate 7, post 39, any one of the heads 48, plate 8, and post 25, 26. As is well known, ignition locks are plugs 48 will establish a circuit by way of the two corresponding wires 33, sleeves 47, springs 52, and plungeis 51, through the plug 48 so depressed, to the plate 8, and from said plate through the post 25, 26 to the Wire 29, thus shorting the two spark plugs corresponding to the two plugs 42 adjacent to the depressed plug 48.

As a "further precaution, should the plate 8 be set to a position to bring an aperture 18 or 19 therein, which is adjacent to a post 21, in register with a plug 42, the depression of such plug will, through the flange 42 thereon, short-circuit the ignition or spark plug circuit in the event that the ground Wire Ql is broken, this short circuit occurring through the plug 42, post 21, plate 8. and post 26. Of course, if the ground wire 24 be not broken at this time, the contact 21 will be ineffective for short-circuiting, since the magneto will be grounded through the usual ground including the contact 40 and plate 8, as the insulation 20 at this time will be out of register with such contact.

Vith the embodiment of my invention thus described, it will be evident that, in order to operate the ignition, it is necessary that a particular combination of plugs projecting from the face of the head 6 be known and that, together with this, the proper setting of the plate 8 be also known; also that, for all ordinary and practical purposes, it is impossible to supply current to the ignition circuit by breaking the magneto' ground in the Way usually practiced by automobile thieves.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:'

1. An ignition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a series of movable members each adapted by its movement to close a spark plug circuit, a plate having openings therethrough for the passage of said members and exceeding in number the number of said members, means including said plate for normally rendering said circuits ineffective, and additional means adjacent to certain openings onl in said plate and engaging said plate for rendering said spark plug circuits ineffective and each adapted to be engaged by one of said members to break its engagement with said plate.

An igiition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a magneto, comprising means normally grounding the magneto and the spark plug circuits of said engine, a movable contact member for each spark plug circuit and movable contact members additional thereto, means operative by each of the first movable members for breaking the magneto ground by its movement to close its spark plug circuit, and

means operative by each of said additional members for effecting such ground.

3. An ignition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a magneto, comprising means corresponding in number to the spark plug circuits of said engine, for grounding said magneto and thereby the spark plug circuits, nu able contact members for the spark plug circuits, each having means adapted by its movement in a direction to close its spark plug circuit to break a corresponding magneto ground, and additional means in said lock, independent of said contact members, for grounding said magneto and said spark plug circuits.

l. An ignition lock for a multi-cyliluler internal combustion engine having a magneto, comprising means including a pair of conductors for grounding said magneto and the spark plug circuits, a movable contact member foreach spark plug circuit adapted by its movement to close such circuit and to break a magneto ground, and a movable selecting device cooperating with said members and said conductors to make the magneto grounds and to cause the said members each to close a spark plug circuit and break a magneto ground, or to close a magneto ground in the event that one of the conductors is broken or disconnected.

5. An ignition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a magneto, comprising a series of movable members each adapted by its movement to close a spark plug circuit, a movable selective device, means corresponding in number to said members and cooperating with said device for grounding said magneto and circuits, said means arranged to be engaged by said members respectively as the latter are moved to circuit closing position to break said grounds, respectively, contact members additional to the first mentioned contact members, and means including said device for closing a ground by the movement of each of the last mentioned members.

6. An ignition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a head, contact plugs reciprocably mounted in said head and each adapted to open and close a circuit including the spark plug for one of the cylinders of such engine, one or more contact plugs mounted in said head additional to the first mentioned plugs, a movable plate having openings therethrough for the passage of said plugs and in excess of the number of said plugs, and'means including said plate and each of such additional plugs for rendering ineffective the spark plug circuits.

7. An ignition lock for a multi cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a head,-oonta'ct members carried by said head adapted to open and close acircuit including one of the spark plugs of said engine, and a plurality of movable contact members additional thereto, a movable conducting plate having openings therethrough for the pas sage of all of said members, the said plate having a non-conductive portion, aground circuit including a contact adapted to engagesaid plate and the non-conductive portion thereof and a second contact engaging said late, means cooperating only with each of tie first mentioned members and arranged to register withopenings in said plate for closing the spark plug circuits through the first mentioned members, and means cooperating with each of the second mentioned members for establishing a g Ound circuit when such member is moved throu h an opening in said plate.

9. n ignition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a. p1u rality of reciprocable plugs, each adapted to open and close a circuit including one of the spark plugs ofsaid engine, a plurality'of plugs additional to the first mentioned plugs, a movable conducting plate having openings therethrough for the passage of all of said plugs and adapted to, contact with such additional plugs, the said, platehaving a nonconductiveportion, a magneto ground circuit including a contact adapted to engage said plate and the non-conductive portion thereof and a plurality of additional magneto ground contacts engaging said plate, and arranged to be moved out of engagement therewith by the movementof the first mentioned plugs through openings in said plate to close, their respective spark plug circuits, additional ground circuits adapted to be closed by the second mentioned plugs, and additional ground circuits adapted to be closed by the first mentioned plugs in certain positions of saidplate.

10. An ignition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a plural'ity of contact members each controlling a circuit including a spark plug for a cylinder of such engine, a plurality of contact members additional to the first mentioned members, a series of terminals cooperating with the first-mentioned contact members, a movable plate of conductive material interposed between the contact members and the terminals and having openings therethrough adapted to receive all of said members and in excess thereof, a ground circuit including said plate and a plurality of movable posts normally engaging said plate and each adapt- .ed to be engaged by one of the first mentioned members, an additional ground circuit lincluding said plate andadapted to be rendered inoperative only when a certain selected series of openings in said plate are in register with the said members, and an additional ground cooperating with each of the second members and arranged to be engaged thereby when the latter are'projected tlirough corresponding openings in said p ate. l V

l l, An ignition lock for a multicylinder internal combustion engine comprising a head having reciprocably mounted therein a plurality of switch plugs, each controlling a circuit including a spark plug for a cylinder of said engine, one or more additional plugs mounted in said head, a second head of conductive matei'ial spaced from the first first mentioned plugs and having a ground post arranged to cooperate with each of the second mentioned plugs, a movable plate of conductive material interposed between said heads and having apertures therethrough for said plugs, a ground circuit including the second headand the said plate, and addi tional ground circuitsalso including the second headand a plurality of movable contact devicesgnormally engaging the said plate but adapted to be disengaged from the latter by the movement of the first mentioned plugs through the openings provided therefor in said plate. I

12; An ignition lock for a n'iulti-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of movable contact members each controlling a circuit including a spark plug for acyIinder-offsaid engine, a movable plate of conductive material interposed between said contact members and their cooperating terminals, and having apertures there through for said members and in excess of the number of said members, a ground circuit including the said plate, and ground contact member's carried by said plate adjacent to some of said openings and cooperating with some of said contact members to close each i6 ground circuit when engaged by such mem- 13. An ignition lock for amulti-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of contact members each forming terminals and having apertures therethrough for the passage of said members and in excess of the number thereof, means including said plate and a plurality of contact members normally engaging the same for rendering the spark plug circuits ineffective, each of the last mentioned members bein arranged to be engaged and moved out 0 contact with said plate through the movement of a cooperating plug through an opening in said plate to close the appropriate spark plu circuit, and additional means including saic plate and contact devices located adjacent to openings therein and adapted to be engaged by said plugs for rendering the spark plug circuits inoperative.

11-. An ignition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of contact members each adapted by its movement to close the spark plug circuit or" a cylinder of said engine, a movable plate interposed between the said members and the terminals therefor, means including said plate for normally preventing the closing of the said spark plug circuits through the movement of said members, and means controlled by the movement of said plate for permitting the effective closing of the said circuits by said members.

15. An ignition lock for multi-cylinder combustion engines comprising a head, a plurality of plugs reciprocably mounted in said head and each forming part of a circuit including a spark plug for a cylinder, a terminal arranged to cooperate with each of said plugs, a movable plate of conductive material having openings therethrough for the passage of said plugs and having a non-conductive area, means including said plate and a contact adapted to engage the same for grounding the source of electrical energy, the said contact being adapted to engage the non-conductive portions of said plate through the movement of the latter, and additional plugs engaging said plate for grounding the said source of electrical energy, each of the last mentioned plugs being arranged to be engaged and to be disconnected from said plate by the movement of one of the first mentioned plugs into engagement with its terminal,

16. An ignition lock for multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of contact members each forming part of a circuit including a spark plug for a cylinder. a terminal arrange to cooperate disconnected from said plate by the movement of one of the first mentioned members into engagement with its terminal.

17. An ignition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a head, a plurality of plugs reciprocably mounted in said head and each forming part of a circuit including a spark plug for a cylinder of said engine, a terminal cooperating with each of said movable plugs, a m0vable plate of conductive material having openin therethrough and interposed between t 1e movable plugs and their respective terminals. a ground connection in contact with said plate, a movable plug operatively interposed between each pair of the first mentioned movable plugs and adapted by its movement to be placed in electrical contact therewith, each of such last mentioned movable plugs being ada texl by its movement to contact with t e said plate, thereby to short circuit the spark plu s connet-ted with the. pair of first mentioned plugs connected therewith.

18. An ignition lock for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of contact members each forming part of a circuit including a spark plug for a cylinder of said engine, a terminal cooperating with each of said movable members, a movable contact member operatively interposed between each pair of the first mentioned movable members and adapted by its movement to be placed in electrical contact therewith, each of such last mentioned members forming part of a circuit independent of the spark plugs, whereby the two first mentioned contact members and their cooperating spark plugs will be short-circuited.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

HENRY T. ORMONDE. 

